Latch support for lighting fixtures



Jan. 21, 1964 B. R. BAILEY LATCH SUPPORT FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1962 FIG. 2

INVENTOR BILLY R. BAILEY BY 2 g ATTORNEY Jan. 21, 1964 BAILEY 3,118,621

LATCH SUPPORT FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed April 25, 1962 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BILLY R. BAILEY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,118,621 LATCH SUPPORT FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Billy R. Bailey, Flint, ll/Iicln, assignor to Paramount Industries, Inc., Flint, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,570 Claims. (Cl. 24051.11)

The present invention relates to latches for lighting fixtures and more particularly to a spring latch adapted to releasably connect the reflector and upper housing of a lighting fixture.

In lighting fixtures of the type which includes an upper housing supported by a ceiling or wall and a reflector adapted for connection to the underside of the housing, such connection has heretofore been effected by the use of long bolts extending downwardly through apertures in the housing and the top of the reflector, respectively, and retained by turn latches or nuts. In eflecting such connection, it has frequently been found quite diflicult to balance the reflector overhead while attempting to align the apertures in the top of the reflector with the bolts extending downwardly from the housing, Once the reflector was placed in position for engagement with the housing, with the apertures in the reflector surrounding the lower ends of the bolts, it was necessary to hold said parts in such position while simultaneously rotating the turn latches or threading nuts upon the bolts to retain the parts in engagement. In the case of long or heavy fixtures, two men fre quently had to be employed for this purpose. When it was desired to remove the reflector from the housing for maintenance or repairs, the process was reversed and similar difliculty encountered.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide improved means for connecting a reflector and a housing of a lighting fixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide means adapted to automatically interconnect a reflector and a housing of a lighting fixture when said parts are placed in proper relative position.

A further object of the invention is to provide expanding spring latch means adapted to interconnect a reflector and a housing of a lighting fixture.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide in combination with a spring latch adapted to connect a refleetor and a housing of a lighting fixture, improved means for releasing said latch.

These, together With various auxiliary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, preferred embodiments of which have been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like characters are employed to designate like par-ts throughout the same, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a lighting fixture having an upper housing and a reflector.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view in perspective of a portion of a reflector and of a spring latch and supporting bridge.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of a spring latch.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a spring latch.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of a spring latch taken as shown at line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

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FIGURE 7 is a side view of a portion of a spring latch engaged with a reflector.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 2 but showing a modified form of the invention including an unlatching bar.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a modified form of the invention showing an unlatching bar and portions of a reflector plate and spring latch.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, generally indicated at 19 is a lighting fixture of the fluorescent type including a channellike upper housing 12 and a re flector 14. Each end of fixture 10 includes a lamp-supporting socket element 16 connected by a plurality of screws 18 to a retaining plate 20 which, in turn, is connected to housing 12 by a pair of upwardly-directed, selftapping screws 22. An end closure plate 24 is connected to retaining plate 20 by screws 25, 25. Housing 12 is adapted to be suspended from a ceiling or supported by a wall, with the longitudinal axis of the housing parallel to the specific surface or area which light from the fixture is to illuminate, in any conventional manner, as by a pair of support rods 26, 26 secured to the housing. Electrical wires 23 are connected to each socket element 16 in the conventional manner, extend upwardly into housing 12, and are connected to a conventional source of electrical power to energize fluorescent tubes (not shown) or other sources of light adapted to be retained by socket elements 16.

Reflector 14 is conventionally shaped to reflect downwardly light generated within the fixture, and conventionally supports for the same purpose a downwardly-directed, V-shaped reflector plate 34 having parabolically curved sides extending the length of the reflector and connected to the underside thereof by a plurality of downwardly directed, self-tapping screws 35, 35 or the like. Reflector 14 and reflector plate 34 extend between closure plates 16, 16 and have heretofore been supported by housing 12 in the manner hereinbefore described, i.e., by bolts extending downwardly through apertures in the housing and the top of the reflector and retained by turn latches or nuts engaged therewith.

In accordance with the principle of my invention, I provide a rectangular aperture 36, as best shown in FIG- URE 3, near each end of reflector 14, respectively. I have found it convenient to form a notch 38 at each corner of aperture 36 and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the reflector, and to insert in each pair of opposing notches, respectively, one of a pair of generally circular aluminum plates 39, 39 each of which is then folded backward upon itself so as to form a pair of hearing surfaces 40, 40 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the reflector and securely engaged within said notches. Each aperture 36 is disposed to receive a novel spring latch 41 disposed near each end of housing 12 and more particularly hereinafter described, to connect reflector 14 to housing 12.

A supporting bridge 42 is formed of sheet metal bent in the shape of an inverted U, and bears a pair of downwardly-extending parallel arms 44, 44 formed therefrom. The lower ends of arms 44, 44 are tapered and bear, respectively, apertures 46, 46 to receive a pin 48 extending therethrough and adapted to be retained by an annular spring clip 50. Arcuate slots 52, 52 are formed, respec tively, in arms 44, 44 about circular arcs of equal radius inscribed about apertures 46, 46, respectively, as centers. Bridge 42 is rigidly attached, as by welding, to the inner 3 sides of housing 12 so that arms 44, 44 extend below the lower edge of the housing.

A pair of identical, U-shaped arms 54, 54 is provided, the sides of each being tapered toward one end thereof, respectively. A pair of opposing, aligned apertures 56, 56 is formed, respectively, in the side portions of each of arms 54, 54 near the narrow ends thereof. The broader ends 58, 58 of the side portions of each of arms 54, 54 are formed to have an arcuate configuration, and I have found it preferable to make this arcuate configuration of gradually increasing radius for a purpose more particularly hereinafter described. A pair of lugs 69, 68 project outwardly from the edge of one side of each of arms 54, 54, respectively, opposite the web portion thereof. Lugs 68, 60 are adapted to engage slots 52, 52, respectively, to limit outward movement of arms 54, 54 under pressure of a V-shaped spring 62 retained between arms 54, 54 by pin 48 when latch 41 is assembled.

To assemble latch 41, apertures 56, 56 of both arms 54, 54 are brought into mutual alignment, with the side Walls thereof in overlapping relationship and with lugs 60, 66 each being disposed externally. Spring 62. is then placed between arms 54, 54 with the apex of the spring below the common axis of all apertures 56. Arms 54, 54 and spring 62, in this position, are then inserted between arms 44, 44 with lugs 66, 64 extending outwardly through arcuate slots 52, 52, respectively. Apertures 56 are then aligned with apertures '46, 46 and pin 43 is inserted therethrough, passing above the apex of spring 62, in which position the pin is retained by affixing spring clip 50 to the exposed end thereof. Arms 54, 54 will then spring pivotally outward with respect to each other about pin 48 until lugs 66, 60 contact the extreme ends of slots 52, 52, respectively, which prevent further expansion. An identical'supporting bridge and latch (not shown) are provided and connected to housing 12 near the opposite end thereof and arranged to engage an aperture similar to aperture 36 near the opposite end of reflector 14.

To connect reflector 14 to housing 12, after the housing has been connected to a ceiling or wall by any conventional means, the reflector is disposed horizontally so that the lower portion of latch 41 extends partially into each aperture 36, respectively. Reflector 14 is then manually forced toward the housing with suflicient pres sure so that bearing surfaces 49, 40 contact the outer surface of the web portions of arms 54, '54, respectively, rotating the arms inwardly toward each other about pin 48 and compressing them against the pressure of spring 62 until aperture 36 will clear the arms and move up- 'wardly of arcuate edges 58, 58 thereof to rest against the lower edges of housing 12. When aperture 36 thus clears and moves upwardly of arms 54, 54, the arms relieved of constraint'by bearing surfaces 40, 4t) spring pivotally outward with'respect to each other under pressure of spring 62. Edges 58 of each arm 54 are curved with respect to the axis of pin 48 so that thedistance between the axis and the bearing points of the edges contacting the lower surfaces of edges 40, 49 of plates 39, 39 will increase as the arms pivotally separate. This distance continues to increase 'as the armsrotate outwardly with respect'to each other about pin 48 until reflector 14 is wedged against housing 12. The curvature of edges 58 is selected to be such as, under pressure of spring 62, to'securely retain reflector 14 connected to housing 12 and against the underside thereof.

To effect separation of reflector 14 from housing 12, arms 54, 54 of each latch 41 are manually grasped between and compressed by a thumb and forefinger so as to cause the arms to pivot inwardly about pin 48 until arcuate edges 58, 58 clear bearing edges 40, 46 of plates 39, 39. When clearance is thus obtained, reflector 14 will drop downwardly under force of gravity and separate from housing 12.

In FIGURES 8 and 9 I illustrate a modified form of my invention which includes a release bar 64 adapted to compress latch 41 so as to disengage reflector 14 from housing 12. Release bar 64 is formed from an elongated metal plate and preferably bears at one end a tongue 66 of reduced width, adapted to extend through a rectangular aperture 67 formed in one side wall of reflector plate 34, and a pair of downwardly-bent side flanges 63, 63 to insure rigidity. The other end of release bar 64 extends through a horizontal slot 79 formed in the other side wall of reflector plate 34 and where it is loosely retained by a pair of downwardly-bent ears 2, 72of the bar protruding externally through the slot and by an upstanding ridge '74 of the bar disposed between the side walls of reflector plate and near slot 76. A rectangular aperture 76 in bar 64 is disposed to surround the lower portion of latch 63. When the bar is rotated upwardly by upward manual pressure on tongue 66, the sides of aperture 76 contact the web portions of arms 54, 54, pivotally compress the arms about pin 48 against the pressure of spring 62, and effect clearance by edges 58 of bearing edges 41?, 49 of plates 39, 39 thus facilitating disengagement of reflector 14 from housing 12.

it is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that resort may be had to various changes in construction without departing from the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

l 1. In a lighting fixture, in combination with a housing and a reflector having an aperture therein, a latch com prising, support means extending downwardly from said housing, an arm pivotally connected at its lower end to said support means, the upper end of said arm having an arcuate configuration of gradually increasing radius to form a cam, and a spring yieldingly urging said arm to pivot outwardly about its pivotal connection to said support means and permitting said latch to extend downwardly into said aperture when said spring is compressed, said cam operatively contacting the underside of said reflector to elevate and releasably retain said reflector against said housing when said arm moves outwardly.

2. In combination with a reflector and an upper housing for a lighting flxture, said reflector having an aperture therein, a yoke connected to and extending downwardly fromsaid housing, a pair of arms each pivotally connected at one end to said yoke, spring means yieldingly urging said arms to pivot outwardly, the other ends of each of said arms having an arcuate configuration of gradually increasing radius contacting and camming upwardly the underside of said reflector when said arms move pivotally outward, to releasably retain said reflector. against said housing.

3. a The device of claim 2 having means adapted to limit outward pivotal movement of said arms.

4. In combination with a reflector and an upper housing for a lighting fixture, said reflector having an aperture therein, a latch comprising, a bridge connected to said housing, a pair of parallel first arms extending downwardly from said bridge, said arms each having an arcuate slot therein, a pair of second arms pivotallyconnected near their lower ends between said first arms near the lower, ends thereof by a pin, each of said second arms bearing a lug engaged within one of said slots, respectively, to limit outward pivotal movement thereof, and

a V-shaped spring retained between said first and second arms by said pin and disposed to yieldingly urge said second arms to pivot outwardly, the upper ends of each of said second arms adapted to engage the underside of said reflector when disposed within said aperture, the upper ends having an arcuate portion engaging the underside of said reflector to releasably connect said reflector to said housing;

5. The device of claim 4 having a V-shaped reflector plate connected to the underside of said reflector straddling said aperture, and a release bar pivotally connected to one wall of said reflector plate and extending through an aperture in the opposite Wall of said reflector plate, said bar further having an aperture therein, a pair of edges of said aperture in said bar contacting the outer surfaces of the webs of said second arms, respectively, and compressing them against said spring when said upper ends of said second arms engage the underside of said reflector and said bar is pivotally elevated, to disengage References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Pleister May 1, 1934 Golko Mar. 13, 1962 

1. IN A LIGHTING FIXTURE, IN COMBINATION WITH A HOUSING AND A REFLECTOR HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN, A LATCH COMPRISING, SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID HOUSING, AN ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED AT ITS LOWER END TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS, THE UPPER END OF SAID ARM HAVING AN ARCUATE CONFIGURATION OF GRADUALLY INCREASING RADIUS TO FORM A CAM, AND A SPRING YIELDINGLY URGING SAID ARM TO PIVOT OUTWARDLY ABOUT ITS PIVOTAL CONNECTION TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND PERMITTING SAID LATCH TO EXTEND DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID APERTURE WHEN SAID SPRING IS COMPRESSED, SAID CAM OPERATIVELY CONTACTING THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID REFLECTOR TO ELEVATE AND RELEASABLY RETAIN SAID REFLECTOR AGAINST SAID HOUSING WHEN SAID ARM MOVES OUTWARDLY. 